First printed by the Historical Division, War Department, for
the American Forces in Action series, 1945

CMH Pub 100-9

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402

Foreword to CMH Edition

Fifth Army at the Winter Line (15 November 1943-15 January 1944)
is one of a series of fourteen studies of World War II operations originally
published by the War Department's Historical Division and now returned
to print as part of the Army's commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary
of that momentous clash of arms. These volumes, prepared by professional
historians shortly after the events described, provide a concise summary
of some of the major campaigns and battles fought by American soldiers.
The skillful combination of combat interviews with primary sources, many
of which are now lost, gives these unassuming narratives a special importance
to military historians. The careful analysis of key operations provides
numerous lessons for today's military students.

I am pleased that this entire group of studies will once again be available.
I urge all military students and teachers to use them to enhance our collective
awareness of the skill, leadership, daring, and professionalism exhibited by
our military forebears.

Washington, D.C.
15 September 1989

HAROLD W. NELSON
Colonel, FA
Chief of Military History

Foreword

In the thick of battle, the soldier is busy doing his job. He has the
knowledge and confidence that his job is part of a unified plan to defeat
the enemy, but he does not have time to survey a campaign from a fox hole.
If he should he wounded and removed behind the lines, he may have even
less opportunity to learn what place he and his unit had in the larger
fight.

AMERICAN FORCES IN ACTION is a series prepared by the War Department
especially for the information of wounded men. It will show these soldiers,
who have served their country so well, the part they and their comrades
played in achievements which do honor to the record of the United States
Army.

Fifth Army at the Winter Line is a sequel to From the Volturno
to the Winter Line. The actions of the United States II and VI Corps
are told here in detail. They were aided by other Allied units under Fifth
Army: British 10 Corps on the left flank, and the French Expeditionary
Corps, for the last two weeks of the period, on the right flank. The actions
of these units and of the British Eighth Army on the Adriatic coast are
summarized briefly.

This study is the sixth of a series called AMERICAN FORCES IN ACTION,
designed exclusively for military personnel. No part of this narrative
may be republished without the consent of the A. C. of S., G-2, War Department,
Washington 25, D. C.

The Winter Line is based on the best military records now available.
The manuscript was prepared in the field by the Fifth Army Historical Section.
The oblique terrain photographs (pp. 10, 11, 13, 19, 20, 39, 46, 4.7, 74,
80, 95, 99, 111) are by the Joint Intelligence Collecting Agency; all others
are by the U. S. Army Signal Corps. Readers are urged to send directly
to the Historical Branch, G-2, War Department, Washington 25, D. C., comments,
criticisms, and additional information which may be of value in the preparation
of a complete and definitive history of this operation.